Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he has considered using the Armed Forces Bill 2026 to clarify the legal status of maritime wrecks connected to the United Kingdom’s war effort which are not currently afforded protection comparable to military maritime graves.

The Protection of Military Remains Act (1986) is being strengthened via the Armed Forces Bill 2026 to automatically provide ‘Protected Place’ status to shipwrecks that were under Admiralty orders at the time of their sinking. This will ensure compliant shipwrecks are treated as maritime military graves, prohibiting the removal of artefacts and ensuring these sites are left undisturbed. Maritime wrecks which were not under Admiralty orders at the time of their loss cannot be addressed via the Armed Forces Bill 2026, as it would be outside the Bill’s core constitutional purpose.